This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com

Police investigate the scene after a large explosion in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday. The explosion rocked a central Bangkok intersection during the evening rush hour, killing a number of people and injuring others, police said. (Mark Baker / AP)

The explosion occurred in front of the Erawan Shrine, a tourist landmark also popular with Thais, in the Chidlom district of the Thai capital.
One bomb was found inside the shrine compound, while another was found opposite the complex.
(Mark Baker / AP)

National police chief Somyot Poompanmount talks to the media near the site of the explosion.
Thailand’s capital has been relatively peaceful since a military coup ousted a civilian government in May last year after several months of sometimes violent political protests. But there has been some tension in recent months as the junta has made clear it may not hold elections until 2017.
(Mark Baker / AP)

Police investigate the scene after the explosion, which took place at the Rajprasong intersection, the centre of political demonstrations in recent years. (Mark Baker / AP)

An explosive-ordinance disposal team suits up in the middle of an intersection. Car bombs are almost unknown in Bangkok, but have been used in southern Thailand, where a Muslim separatist insurgency has been underway.
(Sakchai Lalit / AP)

He said he saw three motorcycles in the intersection when he arrived around 7:20 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. local time, and “one of them appeared to still be smoldering.”

The intersection was also filled with police officers, rescue personnel, reporters and a bomb squad, he said.

The explosion occurred in front of the Erawan Shrine, a tourist landmark also popular with Thais, in the Chidlom district of the Thai capital.
One bomb was found inside the shrine compound, while another was found opposite the complex.
(Mark Baker)

The explosion took place at the Rajprasong intersection, which has been the centre of many political demonstrations in recent years. It occurred in front of the Erawan Shrine, a tourist landmark popular with Thais, in the Chidlom district of the Thai capital.

The Central World mall and a cross-section of two overhead Skytrain lines are in the neighbourhood of the blast.

“This is the intersection,” Van Pelt, who works with the Smiling Albino tour company in Thailand, told the Star.

Police investigate the scene after the explosion, which took place at the Rajprasong intersection, the centre of political demonstrations in recent years. (Mark Baker)

“This would be like the Times Square of Bangkok in a way: it’s probably the main focal point for New Year’s celebrations, it’s the main focal point for protests.”

The first bomb was found inside the shrine compound, while the second was found opposite the complex, Weerachon said.

Two local hospitals were calling for Chinese translators to come help, and they were appealing for blood donations, the paper said.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “I strongly condemn the blast in Bangkok. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased. I pray for a speedy recovery of the injured,” Modi posted on Twitter.

Thailand’s capital has been relatively peaceful since a military coup ousted a civilian government in May last year after several months of sometimes violent political protests against the previous government.

But there has been some tension in recent months as the junta has made clear it may not hold elections until 2017 and wants a constitution that will allow some type of emergency rule to take the place of an elected government.

National police chief Somyot Poompanmount: Thailand’s capital has been relatively peaceful since a military coup ousted a civilian government in May. But there has been some tension in recent months as the junta has made clear it may not hold elections until 2017.
(Mark Baker)

More from the Toronto Star & Partners

LOADING

Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or distribution of this content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. To order copies of Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com